Low Stress: Puppy-Love (Jikook)

Chapter Twelve: Smoke Rises

Jungkook smiled at Jimin as the door swung open. Jimin was swallowed by his hoodie, the fabric covering his knees. His socks were mismatched and his hair a storm from the insane way he cuddles up on a couch when watching a show. Jimin's eyes met Jungkook's instantly and the world around them faded briefly. Jungkook's vision grew a fuzzy echo around the clarity that was Park Jimin.

Jimin rubbed his index finger to his thumb before stepping to the side to let the four of them in. Yoongi patted Jungkook on the back as he passed inside, heading straight for Hoseok's booming voice in another room. Jungkook frowned and Taehyung mouthed the word 'phone-call' from the couch as he sat up from a pile of blankets, waving at them. A couple empty margarita glasses on the floor and a scattered deck of cards was on the coffee table in front of him.

Namjoon walks in next, his hand guiding Seokjin's lower back as they place a twelve pack of beers on Hoseok's kitchen island.

"You came." Jimin said breathlessly. He looked sober, a red-flush absent from his cheeks and his eyes clear. Jungkook looked back at the glasses by Taehyung's feet. Jimin's focus was locked on Jungkook alone.

Jungkook smiled, looking at his beautiful friend and feeling full for the first time in a year. The music still full in his chest, his heart warm from his Hyungs apology in the car. Jungkook ruffled Jimin's hair with a laugh as he broke the spell between them to walk inside. He was on a high today, seeing Jimin only added to it.

Jimin reached for Jungkook's wrist to stop him. Jungkook's body flushed with a feeling he doesn't want to name, a hope so damning that he swallowed it violently down, and then let the platonic love of the day override the emotion. He puts his hand over Jimin's and gently peeled it off.

Jimin winced.

"Want to talk on Hoseok's balcony for sec?" Jungkook said, his voice low and kind. Jimin nodded and exchanged a quick look with Taehyung before following Jungkook towards the balcony door. Namjoon and Seokjin pretended not to see, though Jungkook could feel Seokjin's sharp focus, nevertheless. He hides a little grin, knowing this time the protective energy is for him and not against him.

Hoseok's balcony isn't anything special. It's honestly a stoner's dream. The balcony is small, facing out into a quiet city street. There were plush beanie bags and standard foldable picnic chairs scattered all over the place. Plants hung from the metal bars of the balcony above them, and golden Christmas lights were thrown against the back wall, while a small table sat in the middle. Jungkook closed the door behind them, his back lit golden by the warm lights inside as he leaned against the balcony frame. The metal was cold against his skin as he closed his eyes, listening to the occasional rush of cars underneath them.

Jungkook felt Jimin come next to him, the same way he always felt Jimin walk into a room. His shoulder close enough for Jungkook to feel a fire start in the space between them. He looked over at his friend, watching how his round brown eyes soaked in the night sky above them. The sharp line of his chin was illuminated by the lights of the city, shadows dancing where that light couldn't reach. His long lashes brushed his skin as his eyes shone. Jungkook caught himself staring and cleared his throat but couldn't seem to look away.

Jimin smiled and something broke in him as tears gently left his cheeks. Jimin laughed, and the sound was raw and panicked and yet so, so small. "We're never going to be the same again, are we?" Jimin said, watching the cars whisk below them. A slight breeze picked up, brushing through his hair.

Jungkook sighed, running a hand through his own hair and looking out into the Seoul skyline. The city was swallowed by the night sky, the apartment Hoseok lived in was a rather quiet part of Seoul. Standing up so high on the balcony, Jungkook could see Namsan tower in the distance. He remembered hiking up the small mountain the monument sat on with Jimin back in college. They'd just finished their final exams and needed an outlet, leaving for a midnight adventure. Their other friends wanted to race to the top, but Jimin and Jungkook had hiked slowly, talking the whole way instead. Jungkook couldn't remember what they even talked about then, but the feeling of security and love was clear.